Special Education (Opening the Doors Program)

Opening the Doors, a nationally recognized program, enables 1,100 children with diverse learning differences and unique abilities to participate in a quality, meaningful and inclusive Jewish education. By convening collaborations and working in partnership with schools, educational and mental health organizations, Opening the Doors provides innovative educational and community services which educate, empower, inspire, include and create unimaginable moments for families making dreams of a Jewish education come true, they may not have thought possible.

OTD is immeasurably vital to the students with special needs, their families, schools, its leaders and the Jewish community.

“No matter what our personal challenges are, we all need to learn. I feel that everyone should have the same opportunity to learn and develop their own spiritual belief as I did, starting as early as possible.” — Max Granitz, college student

Together, Opening the Doors increases inclusion and engagement by providing meaningful and rewarding Jewish education for all learners.

Together we build community by empowering teachers, teens and families.

Together we convene collaborations by working together to providing relevant and supportive services and resources.

Rabbi Hillel taught:“Do not do to others what you would not wish them to do to you”

An atmosphere of mutual respect between teachers, students, and all participants in the school environment is required for learning to take place. Children who attend school have a right to feel comfortable with their teachers and fellow students. Our commitment is to a safe and caring environment that promotes personal growth and positive self-esteem. Federation’s Alliance for Jewish Education’s Anti-Bullying Policy incorporates all applicable Local, State, and Federal laws governing student behavior in public schools, to enforce a NO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR BULLYING OR HARRASSMENT IN ANY FORM.

DEFINITION

“At School” means in the classroom, elsewhere on or immediately adjacent to school premises, on a school bus or other school-related vehicle, at an official school bus stop, on a pupil’s way to or from school, or at a school sponsored activity or event whether or not it is held on school premises. “At school” includes conduct using a telecommunications access device or telecommunications service provider that occurs off school premises. If the telecommunications access device or the telecommunications service provider is owned by or under the control of the school district or public school academy.

“Bullying” means conduct, including, but not limited to, conduct in a person or using a telecommunications access device, that meets all of the following.

Is directed at 1 or more pupils

Substantially interferes with educational opportunities, benefits or programs of one or more pupils.

Adversely affects the ability of a pupil to participate in or benefit from the school’s educational programs or activities by placing the pupil in reasonable fear of physical harm or by causing emotional distress.

Is based on a pupil’s actual or perceived religion, race color national origin, age sex, sexual orientation, disability, height, weight, gender identity, socioeconomic status, or any other distinguishing characteristic, or is based on association with another person who has or is perceived to have any of these characteristics.

“Harassment” means conduct, including to but not limited to, conduct in person or using a telecommunications device that meets all of the following:

Is directed at 1 or more pupils

Substantially interferes with educational opportunities, benefits or programs of 1 or more pupils.

Adversely affects the ability of a pupil to participate in or benefit from the school’s educational programs or activities because the conduct as reasonably perceived by the pupil is so severe, persuasive, and objectively offensive as to have this effect.

Is based on a pupil’s actual or perceived religion, race color national origin, age sex, sexual orientation, disability, height, weight, gender identity, socioeconomic status, or any other distinguishing characteristic, or is based on association with another person who has or is perceived to have any of these characteristics.

“Harassment,Intimidation and Bullying” also means any gesture or written, verbal, or physical act that a reasonable person under the circumstances should know will have the effect of harming a pupil or damaging his or her property or placing a pupil in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property, or that has the effect of insulting or demeaning any pupil or group of pupils in such a way as to disrupt or interfere with the school’s educational mission or the education of any pupil.
Harassment, intimidation, or bullying includes, but is not limited to, a gesture or written, verbal or physical act described in this subdivision that is reasonably perceived as being motivated by a pupil’s religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, height, weight or socioeconomic status, or by any other distinguishing characteristic.

Examples of Bullying and Harassment may include:

Hitting, pushing, spitting on others

Stealing, hiding, damaging or destroying another’s property

Calling names, teasing, spreading rumors about another or their families

Put downs, belittling others’ skills, abilities, or achievements

Offensive notes or graffiti about others

Degrading comments or gestures about another’s culture, customs, religious or social –economic background

Excluding others from a group

Ridiculing another’s appearance

Forcing others to act against their will

Any other aggressive act verbal, or physical that would make another feel unsafe, fearful, threatened, angry, scared, angry, or unfairly treated

Use of technology (instant messages, inappropriate photographs, emails) to do any of the above

If necessary, your child may have a time-out period where he/she can have a chance to calm down and then rejoin the class.

If further intervention is needed, parents will be notified and a conference will be set up between the director and/or teacher to discuss the child’s behavior and appropriate methods of correcting such behavior.

It may be necessary to recommend that outside professionals be contacted to help modify the child’s behavior.

If all interventions have not been successful and the child’s behavior is deemed a danger to himself/herself or others, the school personnel reserves the right to ask that the child be removed from the school.

Conclusion

A participant in any one of our programs has the right to learn, to participate fully, to be safe, and to be respected and treated with kindness.

The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit’s Opening the Doors Special Education Partnership Program professional staff and the Alliance Special Needs Committee acknowledges the following organizations that helped us create this policy: The Michigan State Board of Education; local public schools (Birmingham, Farmington Hills, Bloomfield Hills); and individual Jewish schools (Yeshiva Beth Yehuda, Hillel Day School, Temple Beth El).

By signing this covenant of respect, I acknowledge receiving a copy of the “Bully Policy”, reading this document and understanding its content. I agree to adhere to all the terms and conditions of the “Bullying Policy”.

INTRODUCTION

Rabbi Hillel taught: “Do not do to others what you would not wish them to do to you”.

An atmosphere of mutual respect between teachers, students, and all participants in the school environment is required for learning to take place. Children who attend school have a right to feel comfortable with their teachers and fellow students. Our commitment is to a safe and caring environment that promotes personal growth and positive self-esteem. Federation’s Alliance for Jewish Education’s Anti-Bullying Policy incorporates all applicable Local, State, and Federal laws governing student behavior in public schools, to enforce a NO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR BULLYING OR HARRASSMENT IN ANY FORM.

DEFINITION

“At School” means in the classroom, elsewhere on or immediately adjacent to school premises, on a school bus or other school-related vehicles, at an official school bus stop, on a pupil’s way to or from school, or at a school sponsored activity or event whether or not it is held on school premises. “At school” includes conduct using a telecommunications access device or telecommunications service provider that occurs off school premises, or if the telecommunications access device or the telecommunications service provider is owned by or under the control of the school.

“Bullying” means conduct, including, but not limited to, conduct in (a) person or using a telecommunications access device, that meets all of the following.

Is directed at one or more pupils

Substantially interferes with educational opportunities, benefits or programs of one or more pupils.

Adversely affects the ability of a pupil to participate in or benefit from the school’s educational programs or activities by placing the pupil in reasonable fear of physical harm or by causing emotional distress.

Is based on a pupil’s actual or perceived religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, height, weight, gender identity, socioeconomic status, or any other distinguishing characteristic, or is based on association with another person who has or is perceived to have any of these characteristics.

“Harassment” means conduct, including to but not limited to, conduct in person or using a telecommunications device that meets all of the following:

Is directed at one or more pupils

Substantially interferes with educational opportunities, benefits or programs of one or more pupils.

Adversely affects the ability of a pupil to participate in or benefit from the school’s educational programs or activities because the conduct as reasonably perceived by the pupil is so severe, persuasive, and objectively offensive as to have this effect.

Is based on a pupil’s actual or perceived religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, height, weight, gender identity, socioeconomic status, or any other distinguishing characteristic, or is based on association with another person who has or is perceived to have any of these characteristics.

“Harassment,Intimidation and Bullying” also means any gesture or written, verbal, or physical act that a reasonable person under the circumstances should know will have the effect of harming a pupil or damaging his or her property or placing a pupil in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property, or that has the effect of insulting or demeaning any pupil or group of pupils in such a way as to disrupt or interfere with the school’s educational mission or the education of any pupil.
Harassment, intimidation, or bullying includes, but is not limited to, a gesture or written, verbal or physical act described below that is reasonably perceived as being motivated by a pupil’s religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, height, weight or socioeconomic status, or by any other distinguishing characteristic.

Examples of Bullying and Harassment may include:

Hitting, pushing, spitting on others

Stealing, hiding, damaging or destroying another’s property

Calling names, teasing, spreading rumors about another or their families

Put downs, belittling others’ skills, abilities, or achievements

Offensive notes or graffiti about others

Degrading comments or gestures about another’s culture, customs, religious or social –economic background

Excluding others from a group

Ridiculing another’s appearance

Forcing others to act against their will

Any other aggressive act verbal, or physical that would make another feel unsafe, fearful, threatened, angry, scared, angry, or unfairly treated

Use of technology (instant messages, inappropriate photographs, emails) to do any of the above.

CONSEQUENCES

Bullying, harassment, and/or intimidating is prohibited.

The range of ways in which a school will respond once an incident of harassment or bullying is identified shall be commensurate with the severity of the incident and with the offender’s record of behavior. The range of responses shall include recording criminal activity to appropriate law enforcement officers. If action is taken against the pupil in response to an incident, school officials shall include a description of the incident and of the action taken in the pupil’s permanent disciplinary record.

Students and parents shall feel unrestrained to report violations of the bullying policy to administrators/teachers. Retaliation against such reporting person shall be prohibited and shall result in expulsion of retaliating student. Should any person knowingly falsely accuse another of violating the bullying policy, that person shall be expelled.

Less Severe or Initial Offenses-Consequences/Remedial Measures

Private discussion between student and teacher

Teacher contacts parents/guardians

Administrator and teacher-parents/guardian conference

Parent must accompany child and remain in classroom and school related programs until behavior is deemed appropriate

More Severe or Repeated Offenses

Student does work supervised in Education Director’s office or other non-classroom areas

Before and/or after-school detention

Probation – monitored by administration

In school suspension

Out of school suspension

Expulsion

Legal Action

Participants will make appropriate restitution to remedy a particular situation involving the offending party or will replace or repair damaged property.

Conclusion

A participant in any of our programs has the right to learn and to participate fully; to be safe; and to be respected and treated with kindness.

The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit’s Opening the Doors Special Education Partnership Program professional staff and the Alliance Special Needs Committee acknowledges the following organizations that helped us create this policy: The Michigan State Board of Education; local public schools (Birmingham, Farmington Hills, Bloomfield Hills); and individual Jewish schools (Yeshiva Beth Yehuda, Hillel Day School, Temple Beth El).

By signing this covenant of respect, I acknowledge receiving a copy of the “Bully Policy”, reading this document and understanding its content. I agree to adhere to all the terms and conditions of the “Bullying Policy”.

INTRODUCTION

An atmosphere of mutual respect between teachers, students, and all participants in the school environment is required for learning to take place. Children who attend school have a right to feel secure with their teachers and fellow students. Our commitment is to a safe and caring environment that promotes personal growth and positive self-esteem. Federation’s Alliance for Jewish Education’s Anti-Bullying Policy incorporates all appropriate Local, State, and Federal laws governing student behavior in public schools. Therefore, as we affirm our belief that we are all created B’tzelem Elokim, in the image of God, we join as a community in a NO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR BULLYING OR HARRASSMENT IN ANY FORM.

DEFINITION

“At School” means in the classroom, elsewhere on or immediately adjacent to school premises, on a school bus or other school-related vehicles, at an official school bus stop, on a pupil’s way to or from school, or at a school sponsored activity or event whether or not it is held on school premises. “At school” includes conduct using a telecommunications access device or telecommunications service provider that occurs off school premises, or if the telecommunications access device or the telecommunications service provider is owned by or under the control of the school.

“Bullying” means conduct, including, but not limited to, conduct in (a) person or using a telecommunications access device, that meets all of the following.

Is directed at one or more pupils

Substantially interferes with educational opportunities, benefits or programs of one or more pupils.

Adversely affects the ability of a pupil to participate in or benefit from the school’s educational programs or activities by placing the pupil in reasonable fear of physical harm or by causing emotional distress.

Is based on a pupil’s actual or perceived religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, height, weight, gender identity, socioeconomic status, or any other distinguishing characteristic, or is based on association with another person who has or is perceived to have any of these characteristics.

“Harassment” means conduct, including to but not limited to, conduct in person or using a telecommunications device that meets all of the following:

Is directed at one or more pupils

Substantially interferes with educational opportunities, benefits or programs of one or more pupils.

Adversely affects the ability of a pupil to participate in or benefit from the school’s educational programs or activities because the conduct as reasonably perceived by the pupil is so severe, persuasive, and objectively offensive as to have this effect.

Is based on a pupil’s actual or perceived religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, height, weight, gender identity, socioeconomic status, or any other distinguishing characteristic, or is based on association with another person who has or is perceived to have any of these characteristics.

“Harassment,Intimidation and Bullying” also means any gesture or written, verbal, or physical act that a reasonable person under the circumstances should know will have the effect of harming a pupil or damaging his or her property or placing a pupil in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property, or that has the effect of insulting or demeaning any pupil or group of pupils in such a way as to disrupt or interfere with the school’s educational mission or the education of any pupil.
Harassment, intimidation, or bullying includes, but is not limited to, a gesture or written, verbal or physical act described below that is reasonably perceived as being motivated by a pupil’s religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, height, weight or socioeconomic status, or by any other distinguishing characteristic.

Examples of Bullying and Harassment may include:

Calling names, teasing, spreading rumors about another or their families

Put downs, belittling others’ skills, abilities, or achievements

Offensive notes or graffiti about others

Degrading comments or gestures about another’s culture, customs, religious or social –economic background

Excluding others from a group

Ridiculing another’s appearance

Forcing others to act against their will

Hitting, pushing, spitting on others

Stealing, hiding, damaging or destroying another’s property

Use of technology (instant messages, inappropriate photographs, emails) to do any of the above

Any other aggressive act verbal, or physical that would make another feel unsafe, fearful, threatened, angry, scared, angry, or unfairly treated

CONSEQUENCES

Bullying, harassment, and/or intimidating is prohibited.

The range of ways in which a school will respond once an incident of harassment or bullying is identified shall be commensurate with the severity of the incident and with the offender’s record of behavior. The range of responses shall include recording criminal activity to appropriate law enforcement officers. If action is taken against the pupil in response to an incident, school officials shall include a description of the incident and of the action taken in the pupil’s permanent disciplinary record.

Students and parents shall feel unrestrained to report violations of the bullying policy to administrators/teachers. Retaliation against such reporting person shall be prohibited and shall result in expulsion of retaliating student. Should any person knowingly falsely accuse another of violating the bullying policy, that person shall be expelled.

Less Severe or Initial Offenses

Private discussion between student and teacher

Create a “safe room” for time out

Work with school social worker

Administrator and teacher-parents/guardian conference

Temporary removal from the classroom

Referrals to various support staff or community resources

Daily/weekly progress reports

Behavioral contracts

Change in student’s class schedule or classroom

More Severe or Repeated Offenses

Before and/or after-school detention

Probation – monitored by administration

In school suspension

Out of school suspension

Expulsion

Legal Action

Professional evaluation

Conclusion

A participant has the right to learn and to participate fully, be safe, and to be respected and treated with kindness.

The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit’s Opening the Doors Special Education Partnership Program professional staff and the Alliance Special Needs Committee acknowledges the following organizations that helped us create this policy: The Michigan State Board of Education; local public schools (Birmingham, Farmington Hills, Bloomfield Hills); and individual Jewish schools (Yeshiva Beth Yehuda, Hillel Day School, Temple Beth El).

By signing this covenant of respect, I acknowledge receiving a copy of the “Bully Policy”, reading this document and understanding its content. I agree to adhere to all the terms and conditions of the “Bullying Policy”.

Upcoming Events

Feb

22

NEXTGen Detroit Couples Glass Blowing (Sold Out)

Did Valentine’s Day blow? Fear not, we’ve got a redo date that’s sure to blow your partner’s mind! Join NEXTGen Detroit Couples at Juice Box Studio in Detroit for an artsy-fartsy date night first — glass blowing! You and your main squeeze can each make your own paperweight with an expert glass blower while enjoying […]

NEXTGen Detroit Pride Presents Drag Queen BINGO

With Purim just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to dress up and be fabulous — so NEXTGen Detroit Pride is getting in the spirit with Drag Queen BINGO! First we’re brunching, then we’re breaking out our lucky charms and playing BINGO with some seriously glamorous pros. Come one come all, including allies! BINGO […]

TOV Read Detroit

Part I: Read Detroit Night! Tuesday, February 27th | 7:30pm at a Private Home in Huntington Woods Prior to our day at Bagley Elementary School, join us for: An intimate learning discussion about our community’s literacy gap. Critical conversation about what we can do to help bridge this divide. Please bring three new books to […]

EPIC 2018

We’re lighting up the night in an EPIC way for a bright Jewish future in Detroit! Join us as we set The Fillmore aglow for NEXTGen Detroit’s premiere annual fundraiser. EPIC is turning lucky number 7, and we’re going all out for this ultimate celebration of community and young Jewish philanthropy.